The sacred vestments have an important function in the Mass: In the first place, the fact that they are not worn in ordinary life helps us to realise we are doing something extra ordinary when we are at Mass. Secondly, the vestments help ‘mask’ or ‘camouflage’ the priest which helps us to remember that the Mass is celebrated ‘in persona Christi’ and not in the priest’s own name. Whichever priest says Mass, he does not do so as a private person, but as a minister of the Church and an instrument in the hands of Jesus Christ.

When the Priest puts on his vestments, he says vesting prayers to help prepare him to celebrate the Holy Mass.